Method and apparatus for rapidly draining crank case oil



1931- E. J. SWEETLAND 1,815,221

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RAPIDLY DRAINING CRANK CASE OIL Filed June 2,1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 RTfOP/VEY July 21, 1931. E. J. SWEETLAND 1,315,221

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RAPIDLY DRAINING CRANK CASE OIL Filed June 2,1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I July 21, 1931. E. J. SWEETLAND 1,815,221

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RAPIDLY DRAINING CRANK CASE OIL Filed June 2,1924 I5 Sheets-Shget 5 .Illll.

FTTOF/VE) Patented July 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERNEST J.SWEETLAND, OF HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BAPIDLYDBAINING CRANK CASE OIL Application filed June 2,

, ternal combustion engine.

It is an object of the invention to provide .a method and apparatus forthis purpose whereby the lubricating oil in the crank case of aninternal combustion engine may be quickly and completely withdrawn fromthe crank case without the necessity for crawling under the car andremoving the drain plug which is at present used to close the bottom ofthe crank case and without the dirty work which is incidental to thepresent draining and refilling of the crank case of an automobile.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatuswhereby the contents of the crank case can be withdrawn and the crankcase refilled with clean oil in much less time than is taken for thewithdrawal or' drainage of the dirty crank case oil by gravity as underthe present procedure.

A further object of the invention is to provide an internal combustionengine crank case constructed and arranged so that the emptying, ordraining, and refilling of the same may be expeditiously accomplished.

The invention involves broadly the step of withdrawing the oil from thecrank case of an internal combustion engine by suction and of anapparatus adapted to be inserted into the lowest portion of the crankcase from above for the purpose of eifecting said withdrawal. In orderto facilitate the insertion of the apparatus into the lowest portion ofthe crank case I have designed a crank case for automotive internalcombustion engines which locates the oil sump below and in line with thebreaking tube or some other convenient opening into the crank case fromabove. It will be obvious however to persons skilled in the art thatvarious forms of apparatus may be used for accomplishing this broadpurpose and that certain modifications in the method described herein mabe resorted to without departing from the general spirit of theinvention or the scope of the dams thereto.

1924. Serial No. 717,389.

In compliance with the patent statutes, 1 have shown in the accompanyingdrawings, the present preferred embodiment of an a paratus suitable forcarrying out the method under the various conditions described hereinbut it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to theparticular apparatus shown and described. In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 1s a s1 de view of an automotive internal combustion engineshowing certain modifications 1n the construction thereof to adapt thesame for use with my method.

Figure 2 is a part sectional View thru the crank case of the engineshowing one form of apparatus for withdrawing oil from the crank case. r

Figure 3. is a side elevation of a large scale apparatus for carryingout my method, suitable for use in garages, service stations, etc. 7

Figure t .is a part sectional view of one form of valve to be used inconnection with the apparatus shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a part sectional view of an ordinary internal combustionengine with a suitable drainage pipe attached thereto to adapt the samefor use with my method of drainin and refilling the crank case withlubricating oil.

Figure 6 is a detailed view of a cap for closing the top of the drainagepipe shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a detailed view of the valve which may be provided in thelower end of the suction tube.

Figure 8 is a side view of still another form of apparatus suitable forthe carrying out of my method.

Figure 9 is a side view of a still further modified form of apparatus.

Figure 10 is a sectional view of one form of valve for use with theapparatus of the invention.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, thecrank case 2 of the internal combustion engine 1 is provided with adepression or sump 3 located in line with the breather tube or inlet 4to the crank case. A suitable spring retained cap 5 fits upon thebreather tube to normally close the opening to the crank case andprevent the entrance of dust therein. In Figure 2, 6 illustrates oneform of apparatus for quickly withdrawing the lubricating oil from thecrank case of an engine constructed in accordance with-the drawingsshown in Figure 1, in the use of which it is unnecessary to go thru thelaborious and dirty process of crawling underneath the engine, removlngthe drain plu from the crank case and waiting for the Oll to drain outby gravity then replacing the drain plug and refilling the crank casewith oil or perha s with kerosene or some other flushing out aid andrepeating the process to remove the kerosene after which the newlubricating oil is put into the crank case.

, The apparatus illustrated in Figure 2 comrises 21. graduated pumpcylinder 7 which 18 preferably constructed of glass or some othertransparent material so that the amount of oil therein may be observed,and is provided with a piston 8 which is moved in the cylinder 7 bymeans of a handle 9 to draw the oil thru the nozzle 10 into the cylinderor to eject same from the cylinder. The

. lower end of the nozzle 10 is provided with a valve portion 11 whichprojects downward below the end of the nozzle portion so that the valve12 is lifted from its seat 13 when the nozzle 10 is placed at the bottomof the crank case, topermit the oil to be sucked into the nozzle 10 andcylinder 7. When the nozzle 10 is removed from the bottom of the crankcase, the valve 12 falls back upon its seat and prevents any of the oilfrom draining back into the crank case. A suitable guide 14 keeps thestem 12a of the valve 12 in proper alignment with the nozzle 10. Byplacing the sump 3 at the one side of the crank case adjacent the sidewhile thereof the nozzle 10 can be inserted therein while the cylinder 7is held in substantial vertical alignment therein.

In the use of this device, the breather cap 5 is removed from the crankcase and the nozzle 10 inserted thru the opening 4 and is pushed intothe sump 3 at the lowest portion of the crank case. The valve stem 12aresting upon the bottom of the sump 3 is lifted and when the piston 8 ispulled upward in the cylinder 7, the suction in the cylinder draws theoil from the crank case throughthe nozzle 10 and into the cylinder 7.When all of the oil has been sucked out of the crank case, which is amatter of only a very short time, the nozzle 10 is lifted out of theopening 4 and the apparatus 6 is removed to any suitable place fordischarging the dirty oil. It will the obvious toany one familiar withthe internal combustion engine are that all these operations will take avery short time as compared to the time necessary to drain theoil fromthe crank case by gravity and that same can be carried out with muchmore comfort'to the operator and with much more cleanliness thanaccompanies the present method of draining the crank case. After theoil-has been removed in the manner indicated new oil may be added eitherby drawing the same into the cylinder 7 and forcibly ejecting it intothe crank case or by pouring the same into the crank case thru thebreather opening 4 as is the usual practice. If it is desired to flushout the crank case and oil conduits with kerosene or some other cleaningcompound, the kerosene is introduced into the crank case in any suitablemanner and after the engine has been run for a short period of time itmay be withdrawn by the use of the apparatus and method described in thesame way that the dirty lubricating oil is withdrawn.

To permit drainage of the crank case without the use of the suctionapparatus just described the sump 3 may be provided with a tap 15normally closed by valve 16 which is operable thru the rod 17 to permitthe oil to drain from the sump 3. The apparatus just described isdesigned for the use of the owner of a car or for the man who does hisown service work. For garages, service stations etc., where crank casesare drained on a large scale, an apparatus similar to that illustratedin Figures 3 and 4 can be utilized. This apparatus comprises a suctiontank 18 provided with a vacuum pump 19 driven by a suitable motor 20which may be automatically or hand controlled to maintain the properdegree of vacuum in the tank 18. The gage 21 indicates the degree ofvacuum in the tank. Extending from the tank 18 is a vacuum line 22provided with flexible hose connections 23 which permits movement of thenozzle 24 to various positions for the purpose of withdrawing the oilfrom the crank case of the automobile. This nozzle 24 is provided with ahandle portion 25 and a hand controlled valve 26 for opening and closingthe communication between the nozzle 24 and the vacuum line 22. Thevalve 26 is seated upon a suitable seat 27 and is normally held inclosed position by a spring 28 which surrounds the valve stem 29.

A trigger or thumb piece 30 is provided adjacent the handle 25 so thatthe valve may be conveniently opened by pressing downward upon thetrigger 30 to communicate the suction from the vacuum line 22 to thenozzle 24. A valve 22a is provided near the tank 18 to permit thesuction in the line 22 to be cut off for repairing the hose 23 or atothsr times when the apparatus is not to be use In .the use of thisapparatus, the nozzle 24 is free to be moved to the automobile by meansof the flexible hose 23 and is inserted into the crank case as in themanner similar to the way the nozzle 10 is inserted in Figure 2. Thevalve 26 is then open and the suitably proportioned suction in the tank18 quickly withdraws the oil from the crank case into the tank. Asuitable sight glass 31 may be provided in the tank 18 for indicatingthe height of the oil therein and a discharge valve 32 and conduit 33may be used for conveying the oil from the tan 18 to any suitablestorage or tank receptacle. To prevent kinking of the hose 23 and tokeep the same off the floor,

the hose may be passed over a pulley 34 sus- 1 cate apparatus of thistype could be designed, the one for rapid withdrawal of the oil fromthecrank case and the second utilizing a pressure tank similar to thesuction tank 18, a hose 23 and a nozzle 24, etc., could be utilized forinjecting the oil under pressure into the empty crank cases after. theyhad been drained.

Figure 8 illustrates a form of apparatus which might also be used forthis purpose, comprising a cylindrical body portion 39, preferablyconstructed of glass or other transparent material and provided with ascale 40 by which the amount of oil in the cylinder can be gauged ormeasured. This cylinder is provided with a flexible nozzle 10a adaptedto be inserted into the crank case and being flexible may be used withcrank cases where the lowest portion of the crank case is not directlyin line with the pressure cap as illustrated in Figure 1. A vacuum line41 controlled by a suitable valve 42 communicates with the cylinder 39and a pressure line 43 controlled by a suitable valve 44' alsocommunicates with the cylinder at the top thereof.

In the use of this device, the nozzlelOa is inserted into the crank caseand the valve 42 opened to suck the oil in the crank case into thecylinder 39. When all of the oil has been withdrawn, the valve 42 isclosed and the apparatus removed to any suitable place for dischargingthe dirty oil, there the nozzle 10a is inserted into the storagereceptacle and the valve 44 opened to permit the air under pressure inthe line 43 to enter the cylinder 39 and quickly eject the dirty oilfrom the cylinder. For refilling the crank case, the cylinder 39 may besucked full or partially full of clean lubricating oil by means of thevalve 42 and the vacuum line 41 and the nozzle 10a reinserted into thecrank case and the clean oil ejected from the cylinder by air pressurefrom the line 43.

A modifiedform of apparatus is illustrated in Figure 9 in which twostorage cylinders 39a and 39?) are provided, one for receiving the dirtyoil from the crank case and the other for containing a supply of cleanoil to be injected into the crank case,

The cylinders 39a and 39?) are preferably connected together bymanifolds, 52 and 53 at the upper and lower ends thereof, and each mayconsist of a graduated glass cylinder, closed at the ends thereof by thecap portions 54 and 55. A plurality of adjustable bolts or rods 56extend between the .cap portions and serve to bring the gaskets in theca s into fluid tight engagement with the ends of the cylinders, and toprotegtthe glass of the cylinders from breakage From the lower manifold53 a nozzle 57 is extended outward in position to be projected into thecrank case, and a suitable threeway valve 58 is provided to open ,orclose communication between the nozzle 57 and the cylinders 39a or 39?).At the top of the cylinders 39a and 396 the manifold 52 is provided withvacuum and air pressure connections 41a and 43a respectively providedwith suitable control valves 42a and 44a, a pair of push valves 59 and60 are also provided in the manifold 52 adjacent the cylinders 39a and39b to control the communication between the cylinders and the manifold52. A part sectional view of one of the push valves is illustratedin-Figure 10, and comprises a valve seat 61 valve 59 and stem 62provided with a pusher head 62a, a coil spring 63 normally keeps thevalve in closed position.

To fill the cylinder 39b for example with new oil'the nozzle 57 isinserted into the oil, valve 58 is turned to open communication betweenthe nozzle and cylinder 39?) and suctionis communicated to this cylinderby opening valves 60 and 42a, to draw the oil into the cylinder, thevalve 58 is now turned to connect the nozzle 57 with the cylinder 39aand when the nozzle 57 is inserted into the crank case the valve 59opened to establish the vacuum in the cylinder 39a and draw the oil fromthe crank case into this cylinder. When the crank case has been drainedthe valve 59 is released, valve 42a is closed and valve 44a is opened,the valve 58 is turned to open the communication between the cylinder39?) and the nozzle 57 and the valve 60 is opened to force the clean oilunder pressure into the crank case.' The graduations on the cylinder 396permit a measured quantity of oil to be injected into the crank casebefore closing the The apparatus may'then be removed from the engine,the dirty oil discharged from the cylinder 39a and the cylinder 3%refilled in readiness for the next crank case in which fied so as topermit it to be used in carrying out the present method of draining theoil. To permit this change by suction a hole 45 may be drilled into thelowest portion of the crank case and a drain pipe 46 connected to thecrank case at this point by means of the flange 47 which may be boltedor riveted to the crank case around the hole 45. The drainage pipe 46 isprovided with an elbow 46a which permits it to be turned upward so as toproject above the top of the crank case to an accessible positionpreferably under the hood of the automobile approximately near theposition occupied by the breather tube of an ordinary crank case. Thetop of this pipe may be provided with suitable bayonet pins '48 and benormally closed by the cap 49 with slots 50 which cooperate with thebayonet pins to retain the cap in position. When it is desired towithdraw the lubricating oil from the crank case of anengine equippedwith a drainage pipe 46, the nozzle portion 10 or 10a is provided with acap 51 also having slots 50 for cooperation with the bayonet pins 48 sothat a fluid tight seal may be formed between the top of the pipe 46 andthe cap 51. When the suction is opened in the nozzle 1011, the oil iswithdrawn from the pipe 46 into the cylinder 7 or 39 or tank 18 as thecase may be. The new oil may be introduced thru pipe 46 or may beintroduced thru the breather opening of the crank case in the usualmanner. It is to be understood, of course, that th process lends itselfquickly to the drainage of the oil and the immediate refilling of thecrank case with new oil or to the drainage of the oil and the flushingout of the crank case with kerosene or the like before the new oil isadded. In either case the saving of time and trouble over the methodheretofore prevailing for the drainage and flushing out of the crankcase is very great and the draining of the crank case by my new methodis obviously a much cleaner operation than the drainage of the crankcase as heretofore practiced. f v

As stated heretofore, the invention contemplates broadly the method ofrapidly draining the crank case by suction either with or without therapid filling of the crank case and is not limited to any particular.form of apparatus unless so limited in the claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for removing used lubricating oil from the crank caseof an internal combustion engine of thetype described a vacuum tank, avacuum line, leading therefrom a nozzle adapted to be extended into thebreather opening of the crank case above the normal oil level and meansfor controlling the vacuum to said nozzle, including a push valveadjacent the top of said nozzle. I 2. In an apparatus of the typedescribed, a pair of transparent cylinders, manifolds connecting thecylinder at eachend thereof, a nozzle extending from the lower manifoldand adapted to extend into the crank case of an internal combustionengine, means to-control communication between the nozzle and eachcylinder, pressure and vacuum connections for the upper manifold, andmeans to control the communications of pressure or vacuum to eachcylinder.

3. In an apparatus of the type described, a pair of transparentcylinders, manifolds connecting the cylinder at each end thereof, anozzle, extending from the lower manifold and adapted to extend into thecrank case of an internal combustion engine, means to controlcommunication between the nozzle and each cylinder pressure and vacuumconnections for the upper manifold, means to control the communicationof pressure or vacuum to each cylinder, and means extending between themanifolds to connect the same and protect the cylinders from'breakage.

4. In a system for discharging used lubricant from vehicle motors, thecombination with the lubricant holding case of the vehicle motorprovided with an opening above the normal oil level therein a'nd in linewith a sump at the bottom of the holding case of a vacuum dischargenozzle adapted to extend throughsaid opening and into said sump andconnected with a lubricant eduction tube and means to produce a partialvacuum in said eduction tube whereby the used lubricant may be quicklywithdrawn from the vehicle motor through said nozzle;

5. In a system for discharging lubricant from the crank case of vehiclemotors, an opening in the crank case above the normal oil level and inline with the low point of the crank case and accessible from above thecrank case upon raising the motor hood and a lubricant eduction hose,including an eduction nozzle, adapted to extend through said opening andinto the low point of the crank case, a lubricant'rcceiver with whichsaid hose communicates and means to create a differential pressurewithin and without the, crank case to cause the lubricant to dischargefrom the crank case through said hose and nozzle to the lubricantreceiver.

6. In a system for discharging lubricant from the lubricant holdin casesof vehicle motors, a crank case shape to provide a lowermost portion towhich the lubricant the the lowermost portion of the crank case andcrank case will drain and rovided with a discharge port above the luricant level and in operative ali nment with the said lowermost portionthe crank case, a lubricant eduction tube provided at one end with aportion adapted to be readily inserted through the said discharge portinto the lowermost portion of the crank case, and means to create areduced pressure in the eduction tube to cause the lubricant todischarge from eduction tube.

7. In a system for discharging lubricant from the lubricant holdingcases of vehicle motors, a crank case shaped to provide a lowermostportion to which the lubricant in the crank case willdrain and providedwith a discharge port above the lubricant level and in operativealignment with the lowermost portion of the crank case, a lubricanteduction tube connected at one end to a lubricant receiver and adaptedat its opposite end to be inserted through the said discharge port intothe lowermost portion of the crank case, and means to create a reducedpressure in the lubricant receiver to cause the lubricant to dischargefrom the crank case to the lubricant receiver through the eduction tube.

8. In a system for discharging lubricant from the lubricant holdingcases of vehicle motors, a crank case sha ed to provide a lowermostportion to which the lubricant in the crank case will drain and providedwith a discharge port above the lubricant level and in operativealignment with the said lowermost portion of the crank case, a flexiblehose connected at one end we lubricant receiver and provided at itsopposite end with a nozzle adapted to'be readily inserted through thesaid discharge port into the lowermost portion of the crank case, andmeans to create a reduced pressure in the lubricant receiver to causethe lubricant to discharge from the crank case to the lubricant receiverthrough the flexible hose.

9. In a system for'discharging lubricant from the lubricant holdingcases of vehicle motors, a crank case having a sump to which thelubricant in the case will drain and a discharge port above thelubricant level and in operative alignment with the sump, a flexiblehose connected at one end to a lubricant receiver and provided at itsopposite end with a nozzle adapted to be readily inserted through saiddischarge port into the sump of the crank case, and means to create areduced pressure in the lubricant receiver to cause the lubricant todischarge from the crank case to the lubricant receiver through theflexible hose.

10. In a system for discharging lubricant I from the lubricant holdingcases of vehicle motors, a crank case shaped to provide a lowermostportion to which the lubricant in the crank case will drain and providedwith a discharge port in operative alignment with above the lubricantlevel and readily accessible upon raising the motor hood, a lubricanteduction tube provided at one end with a portion adapted to' be Ireadily inserted through the said discharge. port into the lowermostportion of the crank case, and means to create a reduced pressure in theeduction tube to causethe lubricant to discharge firom the crank casethrough the eduction tube.

11. Ina system for discharging lubricant from the lubricant holdingcases of vehicle motors, a crank case having a sump to which thelubricant in the case will drain and a discharge port in operativealignment with lubricant receiver through the flexible hose.

12. In a system for discharging lubricant from vehicle motors, a crankcase shaped to provide a lowermost portion to which the lubricantin thecrank case will drain and having a discharge port above the lubricantlevel and in operative alignment with the said lowermost portion of thecrank case. a lubricant eduction tube located at a suitable servicestation and adapted atone end to be readily inserted through the saiddischarge port into the lowermost portion of the crank case, and meansto create a reduced pressure in the eduction tube to cause the lubricantto discharge from the crank case through the eduction tube, wherebylubricant may be quickly discharged from a vehicle motor brought to theservice station.

13. In a system for discharging used lubricant from vehicle motors, thecombination with the lubricant holding case of the vehicle motorprovided with an opening above the normal oil level therein and in linewith a sump at the bottom of the holding case,.of a discharge nozzleadapted to extend through said opening and into said sump and connectedwith a lubricant eduction tube, and means to create a differential inpressure between the lubricant in said lubricant holding case and saideduction tube whereby the lubricant in said case may be caused to flowfrom said case outwardly through said eduction tube.

14. Ina system for discharging lubricant from vehicle motors, a crankcase shaped to provide a lowermost portion to which the lubricant in thecrank case will drain and having a discharge port above the lubricantlevel and in operative alignment with the said lowermost portion of thecrank case, a lubricant eduction tube located at a suitable servicestation and adapted at one end to be readily inserted through the saiddischarge port into the lowermost portion of the crank case,

and means to create a differential of pressure between the lubricant insaid case and said eduction tube to cause the lubricant to dischargefrom the crank case through the eduction tube, whereby lubricant may bequickly discharged from a vehicle motor brought to the service station.

15. In a system for discharging used lubricant from vehicle motors, thecombination with the lubricant holding case of, the vehicle motorprovided with an opening above the normal oil level therein a sump orlow point at the bottom of the holding case in position to be reached bya nozzle extended through said opening and a vacuum discharge nozzleadapted to extend through said opening and into said sump and connectedwith a lubricant eduction tube and means to produce a partial vacuum insaid eduction tube whereby the used lubricant may be quickly withdrawnfrom the vehicle motor through said nozzle.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature to this s ecification.

E EST J. SWEETLAND.

